May I share a provoking, and vital video of why I must do this ride.  I know that there are many needs that go unmet in the United States, and millions of people that need our help here and throughout the world. We all are motivated for different reasons to assist when and where we can. I feel blessed to be able to use my recreational passion, bicycling, to do something to help a people that are desperate and afraid, alone and rejected.   Would you please consider standing with me to provide resources for Christ's Hope to give care and compassion to those who have nothing.

On a related note, by coincidence, today I am completing my income tax return, and to date I have raised "1040" of the $7,000. which reminds me Chris'ts Hope, the ministry, Ride For Hope CTC is raising funds for, is a 501(c)(3) charity and donations are tax deductible.  If you have done or are completing your tax return, and find you could use a tax deductible charitable contribution for next year, a donation to Christs Hope is an excellent choice. Click this link to help me raise support for Christ's Hope Ride for Hope rider John Leeming

First long ride of the year

 

If you have just a moment or find it hard to get through a rambling ride description please check out the video at the bottom of the blog entry. I don't want to forget why I am training for this ride.  Please consider giving to the effort, Ride for hope Coast to Coast is trying to raise at least $250,000 to support children orphaned by Aids in Africa!

 

This morning was my first 100 mile ride of the year and the first time I logged 200 miles in a week, since last September.  It was a great day, a little cold but clear skies and a fresh cover of snow on the peaks.  I started out riding into Verdi, NV stopped here to take a picture.  Apparently, I also dropped my credit card from my pocket at that same moment.  Fortunately, a kind rider that lived in Verdi found it and called my wife and it was recovered with out incident.  The greater problem was that it was my source of sustenance and hydration on a long ride.  I feel quite accomplished to have completed 100 mile ride with just a banana and one goo packet. 

 

Heading into Verdi looking West toward Crystal Peak

My ride took me from Verdi to North West Reno,  where I began riding South toward Washoe Lake.

At the 25 mile mark Slide Mountain & Mount Rose in background.
 

50 miles and Heading home Slide Mt. just right of the tree.
 

 The best part of the ride is when the Reno Cycling and Fitness Riders joined me for the rest of my ride to support my ride and fund raising effort. 

Reno Cycling Club Joined me @ 70 miles this was taken @ mile 75.

 

 

 

 



First Century ride of the season

This morning I'm riding my first century ride (100 miles) in training for Ride for Hope Coast to Coast.  I fill in the results later.  But would you consider sponsoring me per mile today.  It would be great motivation knowing that each mile I ride today will be bringing Hope to children that need basic care and compassion.

Click to Stand up for the Fatherless 

Training ride 2/26/13

My training ride this afternoon was the first one in a week. Healing up from the blood clot, meetings at work and cold windy weather on Saturday made the excuses easy.  Today I start in earnest so for lunch a beautiful 40 mile ride around Washoe Lake.  One of the reasons I like riding in North Western Nevada is because it straddles the eastern slope of the Sierra.  In a short distance you can ride in the forested mountains, farmland step and open desert.  Here is an example taken from Franktown Lane looking North toward Reno.  An interesting side bar, if your familiar with professional bike racing, this is where Greg Lemond lived as a kid and started his riding career .

Check out Christ's Hope Video

Here is a video of the Care and Compassion ministry of Christ's Hope.  Listen to the alarming effects of HIV and AID's.

Christ's Hope Care and Compassion video

Good News

Received some good news this week.  My training has been hampered lately due to a blood clot in a varicose vein.  These types of clots are not as serious as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) because they are close to the surface of the skin.  The last few weeks my doctor wanted me to ride, but not induce too much stress. So I have been riding at a nice easy pace and not exerting myself on climbs.  This week the doctor re-scanned the veins and found that damaged vein should heal without surgery.  I now have the OK to train without restriction.

Photo from Christ' Hope International web page

A word about the cause;  it is estimated that there are about 30 million orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Half of whom are orphaned as a result of AIDS.  By comparison, the US has approximately 500,000 orphans without a permanent family home.  To give you an idea of the size of the problem Los Angeles County CA has approximately 8 million people. In Sub-Saharan Africa the children orphaned by the AIDS crisis will fill two county's the size of LA.   According to some statistics in third world countries 60% of female enslaved in   sex trafficking are orphans.  Christ Hope International is attempting to stem the tidal wave of destruction caused by the AIDS epidemic in Africa, one child at a time.

I am excited with the progress of the donations.  Thanks to all who have supported the effort so far.  I would particularly like to thank my classmates from Clark High School.  They are rallying around me and this cause. I can not tell you how encouraging your efforts have been.  We will continue to strive to reach the goal.

First response

I received my first donation today Doug thank you for kicking things off. I was pleasantly surprised to see two of my high school class mates from 38 years ago endorsing my participation and helping gather steam as I try to raise the funds required.  Libby and Doug posted the ride on our high school class reunion facebook page, you guys are awesome thank you. 

A little information about the ride might be helpful.  All the details are or will be updated on the official web page www.rideforhopectc.org but here is a summary version.  We kick off the ride on June 17, 2013, leaving Dana Point, CA where we will dip our tires in the Pacific Ocean.  There will be 6 to 10 teams of 4 rider, each team will complete a segment of each days ride.  Each team will have a support (SAG) vehicle getting the team to their designated start area and then after the team complete their segment for the day they will pick them up and drive to the next days starting point.  Approximate every two days the ride has an event in one of the larger metropolitan areas along the route.  Day one will be the kickoff event in the LA area.  Will be in Albuquerque NM, in the evening of day two,  then on to Dallas, Atlanta, Tallahassee and Daytona Beach FL.  when we reach the Atlantic Ocean we'll dip our tires in the ocean signifying the end of the ride...